French rate local Geelong sparkling as gold

Leura Park Estate

Media release

Leura Park Estate has reinforced its status as a Geelong region sparkling wine power house by taking out a coveted Gold medal at the recent French-Australian Chamber of Commerce (FACC) Le Concours des Vins du Victoria awards for its Vintage Grande Cuvee Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay.

The award follows the same wine being ranked as the top sparkling at the recent Geelong Wine Show as well as taking out bronze medals at both the Boutique Wine Show of Australia and Winewise Small Vignerons 2011 Awards. Reinforcing the reputation of local sparkling, the Leura Park Estate Grand Vintage Sparkling Blanc de Blanc took out Bronze medals at the Australian Sparkling Wine Show, International Cool Climate Wine Show and Winewise Small Vignerons Awards 2011.

Now in its 21st year, Le Concours des Vins du Victoria is a prestigious wine show featuring a judging panel of French wine experts and commentators. The FACC awards ceremony was held at Etihad Stadium.

Director of Leura Park Estate, Lyndsay Sharp said that as an avid sparkling fan, she was ecstatic.

“France is the home of champagne – so to have French experts deem our sparkling worthy of a gold medal is particularly special,” Mrs Sharp said.

“Crafted from 60 per cent pinot noir and 40 per cent free run chardonnay juice, both estate-grown, our Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay was the first sparkling wine we ever made so it has always been close to all hearts here at Leura Park Estate,” she said.

Mrs Sharp said the Vintage Grande Cuvee Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay was a refined wine featuring a lovely strawberry nose and palate, delicate yeast characters shining through to an elegant, rich and round finish.

“The primary ferment and sparkling base is crafted here onsite at the Leura Park Estate winery before being sent off for specialist secondary fermentation,” she said.

She said the sparkling results were a credit to the winemaking team of Ray Nadeson, Darren Burke and Nyall Condon.

Mrs Sharp said there was another aspect to sparkling wine that particularly appealed to her and made the awards even more special.

“Sparkling wine transforms any occasion into an instant celebration, no matter how small or simple the occasion may be. “

“All here at Leura Park Estate are delighted that our sparklings could add to festivities in glasses and on tables across the board when friends and families get together – no excuse needed really!”

Regions

Bellarine Peninsula (VIC)

Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula (VIC)

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